UOC & Vatican reps. discuss European de-Christianization

(UOC) - On July 22 at the Synodal Hall of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine the Administrator of the UOC Archbishop Mytrofan of Bila Tserkva and Bohuslav received the chairman of the Pontifical Committee for Vatican-city Cardinal Giovanni Layolo, who is now on a visit to Ukraine. Cardinal Layolo was accompanied by Apostolic Nuntio in Ukraine Archbishop Ivan Yurkovych and priest Damazo Zuazua.

Archbishop Mytrofan, having greeted cardinal on the part of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr, told of preparation for the visit of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill to Ukraine, and also touched upon the issue of de-Christianization of Europe, which refuses to admit its Christian roots. In his turn cardinal Giovanni Layolo agreed that within the boundaries of the European Union Christianity looses its positions and a probable entrance of Ukraine, the country famous for its Christian traditions would facilitate spiritual enrichment of Europe. Though, according to the diplomat from Vatican, this issue is stipulated for exclusively by the willingness of the Ukrainian nation. The Vatican representative also shared his impressions of Ukraine on the whole and of the visit to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in particular, which he jokingly called the Vatican of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Upon completion of the meeting Archbishop Mytrofan offered the book "The Primate" as present to cardinal Loyola, which tells about the ministry of His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr, and the Kyiv-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God and the Kyiv-Pechersk Patericon in English.

Taking part in the meeting also were the Chair of the External relations Department of the UOC archimandrite Kirill Hovorun and the co-worker of the Department archpriest Mykolai Danylevych.